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Ski safari ideas

I'm pondering the idea of a ski safari type adventure this coming
winter. I'll probably go with Freshtracks (the SCGB's travel company),
as they seem to have a few interesting itineraries on offer. However, I
just thought I'd post this to see if anyone has any interesting ideas
for DIY safaris.

For what it's worth my definition of a ski safari is a ski trip
spanning several resorts with most or all of the travel by ski, but
with the minimum of uphill skinning / boot packing - lets say roughly
no more than 1 hour's uphill on any given day - the aim is to use lifts
and roads to gain height (I guess that's the main difference between a
safari and "proper" ski touring). Accomodation could be either hotels,
B&Bs etc in the valley and/or mountain huts. By definition they involve
a lot of off-piste skiing:-)

Looking at the map and based on my fairly limited knowledge of the area
it looks like there might be an intersting possibility of linking the
Monterosa area / Macugnaga / Sass-Fee / Zermatt & Cervinia and then
back to Monterosa. Is this do-able? I know with a heli-drop you can ski
down to Zermatt and then back to Champoluc in a day but I'm thinking of
a more wandering itinerary over a few days.

I just did this.
I just thought I'd post this to see if anyone has any interesting ideas
for DIY safaris.

Oh, some of this is covered in the book Ski Europe (in double digit
editions). Cross border and cross resort trips. There are other books.
For what it's worth my definition of a ski safari is a ski trip
spanning several resorts with most or all of the travel by ski, but
with the minimum of uphill skinning / boot packing - lets say roughly
no more than 1 hour's uphill on any given day - the aim is to use lifts
and roads to gain height (I guess that's the main difference between a
safari and "proper" ski touring). Accomodation could be either hotels,
B&Bs etc in the valley and/or mountain huts. By definition they involve
a lot of off-piste skiing:-)

Looking at the map and based on my fairly limited knowledge of the area
it looks like there might be an intersting possibility of linking the
Monterosa area / Macugnaga / Sass-Fee / Zermatt & Cervinia and then
back to Monterosa. Is this do-able? I know with a heli-drop you can ski
Tail end of some Haute Route trips.
down to Zermatt and then back to Champoluc in a day but I'm thinking of
a more wandering itinerary over a few days.

Hi SteveH
I'm pondering the idea of a ski safari type adventure this coming
winter.
I can imagine, that the dolomites should be a perfect region for what
you are planning. I did a mixed tour (backcountry and liftserved) this
march. You may find pictures, map and description in German on my website.

Florian Anwander wrote:
I can imagine, that the dolomites should be a perfect region for what
you are planning. I did a mixed tour (backcountry and liftserved) this
march. You may find pictures, map and description in German on my website.

snip

Excellent site, thanks for the info, it looks like it was a really good
trip. I've never skied in the Dolomites before but I have to admit this
looks like a tempting idea.

On 18 Aug 2006 09:44:13 -0700, "SteveH"
wrote:
Looking at the map and based on my fairly limited knowledge of the area
it looks like there might be an intersting possibility of linking the
Monterosa area / Macugnaga / Sass-Fee / Zermatt & Cervinia and then
back to Monterosa. Is this do-able?

There's certainly potential for ski safaris linking up Alagna,
Gressoney, Champoluc et al, with some superb skiing en-route. Whether
you can actually hike over to the Zermatt side without spending a lot
more time that you want skinning & climbing I'm not so sure.
I know with a heli-drop you can ski down to Zermatt and then back to
Champoluc in a day

Indeed, and a very worthwhile day it can be too.
but I'm thinking of
a more wandering itinerary over a few days.

Just checking in the book (Polvere Rosa) of routes in the MonteRosa
area, I'm fairly sure that the only way you could get over would be
the Col de Lyss (Letch) at 4250m, climbing up from the Puanta Indren
at about 3500m. The book reckons this is about a 3 hour climb, but is
serious mountaineering and needs crampons, ropes and, I imagine from
what you've said, a qualified guide.

So just bite the bullet and get a heli-drop onto the top instead -
there are several routes down to Zermatt, but you'll need a guide
anyway, as it's glacier for much of the way down, and there _are_
crevasses.

--
Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
Ski Club of Great Britain - http://www.skiclub.co.uk
All opinions expressed are personal and in no way represent those of the Ski Club.

Ace wrote:
Just checking in the book (Polvere Rosa) of routes in the MonteRosa
area, I'm fairly sure that the only way you could get over would be
the Col de Lyss (Letch) at 4250m, climbing up from the Puanta Indren
at about 3500m. The book reckons this is about a 3 hour climb, but is
serious mountaineering and needs crampons, ropes and, I imagine from
what you've said, a qualified guide.

Cheers Ace, great minds and all that... I forgot about this little book
- I came across it last night and read up on exactly this route. I
think you're right, it's a proper mountaineering trip up via the
Gniffeti(sp?) refuge. I'd actually be happy doing this as I've done
plenty of alpine climbing, but this kind of stuff might put some of my
ski partners off:-)

So just bite the bullet and get a heli-drop onto the top instead -
there are several routes down to Zermatt, but you'll need a guide
anyway, as it's glacier for much of the way down, and there _are_
crevasses.

If I was heading to Zermatt directly then I'd do this. I think we've
discussed it before on this group and you pursauded me me to give it a
go a couple of years back, sadly the weather didn't cooperate at the
time:-( I've tried to do it twice now and It's still on my to-do list !

However, my (tentative) plan in this case was to ski from Alagna to
Macugnaga and then over to Saas-Fe (with a night in Macugnaga). After a
bit of surfing I've found out that it's possible to get a lift up from
Macugnaga and ski down the Swiss side without any hiking or skinning.
However, the only way to get to Macugnaga from Alagna seems to involve
a pretty long skin from. There are possible routes starting from Punta
Indren, but these require a lot of climbing as you mentioned and the
decents on the Macugnaga side are very serious. They are listed in
Pulva Rosa in the back of the book... the section on extreme skiing:-o
Marinelli couloir anyone?